Mouthpiece Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a mouthpiece apparatus for bridging the mismatch in shape between the generally circular cross section of a tube, such as a straw, and the more oval or elliptic shape of a person&#39;s mouth. The mouthpiece has an input interface, an output interface, and a continuous passageway connecting the input interface and the output interface. The input interface forms a socket in which to seat the tube, and the output interface conforms generally to the shape of the lips of a person&#39;s mouth in a natural state. In alternate embodiments, the adapter may be formed with, or pre-mounted to, a tube or straw, or to a vessel such as a juice box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/890,035, which was filed on Aug. 21, 2019and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of mouthpieces.More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel mouthpieceapparatus that reduces the strain that is otherwise placed on anindividual's jaw and/or facial muscles when utilizing a drinking straw,a mouth tube, inhaler, or the like. Accordingly, the presentspecification makes specific reference thereto. However, it is to beappreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equallyuseable with other like applications, devices and methods ofmanufacture.

BACKGROUND

The shape of a person's mouth does not typically match the cylindricalshape of a tube, a straw, or inhaler. More specifically, given thelaterally extending opening of the human jaw, the mouth tends to have adominant opening direction that extends laterally relative to the tube,straw or inhaler. Therefore, when engaging a straw, tube, or inhaler,the facial muscles of the person must flex, or deflect, in an un-naturalmanner to form a seal around the cylindrical shape in order for it tofunction as intended. Prolonged use of straws, tubes and inhalers cancause muscle strain and discomfort, as well as lead to the formation ofwrinkles on the user's face.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a mouthpieceapparatus that can be used in conjunction with a straw, a tube, aninhaler or the like to reduce the strain otherwise placed on the face ofthe user. There is also a long felt need in the art for a mouthpieceapparatus that more closely resembles the natural profile of the user'smouth, and that does not require the pursing or puckering of the user'slips when utilizing a straw, a tube, or an inhaler. Finally, there is along felt need in the art for a mouthpiece apparatus that is easilytransportable and reusable.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In an aspect of the invention there is a mouthpiece tube end adapter.The adapter is comprised of a body having an opening of a passagewayextending therethrough, wherein the passageway is further comprised ofboth an inlet and an outlet and an axial direction. The inlet defines asocket for removably receiving an end of a straw, a tube or an inhaler,and forming an interference and generally water-tight fit therebetween.The body is further comprised of an exterior wall extending peripherallyabout the passageway. The peripheral exterior wall presents anengagement surface for a user's lips. The body is further comprised of amajor dimension and a minor dimension extending cross-wise to the axialdirection. The minor dimension defines a mouthpiece height and the majordimension defines a mouthpiece width, wherein the major dimension islarger than the minor dimension. In a preferred embodiment, the bodydiminishes in height from a maximum height at the minor dimension to alesser height at first and second opposed ends of the major dimension.

In one embodiment of the invention, the body is symmetrical relative tothe passageway. In another embodiment, the socket includes an internalaxial stop limiting axial depth of the socket. In yet anotherembodiment, the socket tapers inwardly. In still another embodiment, thebody is a hollow shell. In a yet further embodiment, when viewedaxially, the mouthpiece adapter is one of: (a) a predominantlypolygonally shape; (b) a predominantly elliptical shape; and (c) apredominantly oval shape. In still another embodiment, when viewedsideways along the major dimension, the body is radiused to present asmooth surface facing away from the socket. In another embodiment, themajor dimension is at least double the minor dimension, and the bodytapers to points at either end of the major dimension. In still anotherembodiment, the socket is generally non-circular in its cross-section.In a further embodiment, the inlet of the passageway has a chamferedlead-in.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intendedto include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages andnovel features will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and features of the invention may be morereadily understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures below,showing an example, or examples, embodying the various aspects andfeatures of the invention, provided by way of illustration, and inwhich:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of one possible embodiment of themouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture;

FIG. 1b is the same view of the adaptor of FIG. 1a with hidden linesshown;

FIG. 1c is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1d is a bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1e is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 1a , the rear view beingthe same;

FIG. 1f is a left-end or left-side view of the adapter of FIG. 1a , theright-end or right-side view being the same;

FIG. 1g is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 1ataken on the major axis;

FIG. 1h is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 1ataken on the minor axis;

FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture, and comprising an entry chamfer and an internalstop shoulder;

FIG. 2b is the same view of the adapter of FIG. 2a with hidden linesshown;

FIG. 2c is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2d is a bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2e is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 2a , the rear view beingthe same;

FIG. 2f is a left-end or left-side view of the adapter of FIG. 2a , theright-end or right-side view being the same;

FIG. 2g is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 2ataken on the major axis;

FIG. 2h is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 2ataken on the minor axis;

FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture, and comprising an entry chamfer, an internalstop shoulder, and a hollow shell body;

FIG. 3b is the same view of the adapter of FIG. 3a with hidden linesshown;

FIG. 3c is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3d is a bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3e is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 3a , the rear view beingthe same;

FIG. 3f is a left-end or left-side view of the adapter of FIG. 3a , theright-end or right-side view being the same;

FIG. 3g is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 3ataken on the major axis;

FIG. 3h is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 3ataken on the minor axis;

FIG. 4a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture;

FIG. 4b is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4c is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 4a , the rear view beingthe same;

FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture, and comprising an integrally formed orpre-connected tube;

FIG. 5b is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 5c is a bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 5d is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 5a , the rear view beingthe same;

FIG. 5e is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 5ataken on the major axis;

FIG. 5f is a left-end or left-side view of the adapter of FIG. 5a , theright-end or right-side view being the same;

FIG. 5g is a central cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 5ataken on the minor axis;

FIG. 6a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture, and mounted to a chamber or container;

FIG. 6b shows the adapter and container of FIG. 6a in a front view, therear view being the same;

FIG. 6c shows an end or side view of the adapter and container of FIG.6a , the opposite side or end view being the same;

FIG. 6d shows a top view of the adapter and chamber or container of FIG.6 a;

FIG. 7a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture;

FIG. 7b shows a front view of the adapter of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 7c is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 7d is an end or side view of the adapter of FIG. 7a , the oppositeend being the same;

FIG. 8a illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe mouthpiece adaptor of the present invention in accordance with thedisclosed architecture;

FIG. 8b is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 8c is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 8a , the back or rearview being the same; and

FIG. 8d is a side or end view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovationcan be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments arediscussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are describedonly to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are notintended as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limitthe scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment neednot have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in otherembodiments, any of the features described herein from differentembodiments may be combined.

For the purposes of this disclosure, a Cartesian frame of reference maybe employed. In such a frame of reference, the long, or largest,dimension of an object may be considered to extend in the direction ofthe x-axis, the base of the article, where substantially planar, may beconsidered to extend in an x-y plane, and the height of the article maybe measured in the vertical, or z-direction. In other contexts, thez-direction may be the through thickness of a substantially planar panelwhere the major dimensions lie in the x- and y-directions. The largestprojected facing view of objects described herein may be designatedarbitrarily as either the front and rear or sides, faces, or portions ofthe container. Similarly, the top and bottom are arbitrarily designated,as these terms may be appropriate for the customary orientation in whichthe objects may usually be found, sold, or employed, notwithstandingthat the objects may be picked up and placed on one side or another fromtime to time at the user's choice. That is, to the extent that variousitems are used with drinking or inhaling tubes or straws, and have apassageway along which a fluid flows, the outlet of the straw or tube isunderstood to be the top end, and the inlet is understood to be thebottom end. Accordingly, the portion of the adapters discussed hereinthat is on the inlet side is arbitrarily the bottom, and the portionthat is on the outlet side is the top, whether or not these faces areprecisely vertically facing.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1a-1h illustrate one possibleembodiment of the mouthpiece adaptor 20 of the present invention for atube end. Mouthpiece adaptor 20 may also be referred to herein as aconnector, a coupling, an interface, or an apparatus, and comprises abody 22. A bore or continuous opening is formed through body 22 todefine a passageway or passage 24. Passage 24 is comprised of an inlet26 and an outlet 28. An internal wall 30 extends about, and defines theperiphery of the passage 24. Part or all of internal wall 30 defines anaccommodation, or seat, or tube adapter interface identified as a socket32, as best shown in FIG. 1h . Socket 32 is shaped and sized to receivethe end of a tube, straw, inhaler or the like (not shown). The inletdirection of socket 32 faces downward, i.e., so that a tube may beintroduced in the upward direction (or z-direction) to seat in socket32. As best shown in FIG. 1a , internal wall 30 is preferablycylindrical in shape and having a circular. In a preferred embodiment,socket 32 may have a shallow draft angle α, such that it is tapering andnarrowing as the tube or straw is advanced upward along passage 24. Theprovision of a shallow draft angle α may tend to (a) facilitatemanufacturing of apparatus 20; (b) allow a slight mis-match in size, orrange of sizes, relative to the tube diameter of the tube or straw to beengaged therein; and (c) function as a wedge to squeeze the end of thetube or straw as it is inserted, thereby compressing the endcircumferentially and forming an interference fit, and tending to form aseal about the outside of the tube. The draft angle α is exaggerated forthe purpose of illustration, and is preferably of the order of less than3 degrees of arc.

Body 22 is further comprised of an external wall 40 that extends around,and faces outwardly away from, passage 24. External wall 40 comprises asurface, or land 42, that extends in the axial direction, and thatextends peripherally about body 22. That surface, or land 42, presents asealing surface, or sealing interface such as may be engaged by aperson's lips. In this regard, land 42 defines an adapter outputinterface. As such, body 22 had an adapter input interface forengagement with a tube or straw, defined by socket 32; and an adapteroutput interface for engagement with a person's mouth, as defined byperipherally extending land 42 of external wall 40. Body 22 is alsocomprised of a rearward facing portion, region, surface, or wall 34 thatextends radially outwardly away from outlet 24 to the portion ofexternal wall 40 defining the land 42. Similarly, body 22 is furthercomprised of a forwardly (i.e., toward the tube) facing region, portion,surface or wall 36 that extends radially away from inlet 26 to land 42.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1a , external wall 40 is generallycylindrical, or predominantly cylindrical in shape. It may have, and inthe embodiment illustrated does have, a generally elliptical shape, asseen in the bottom and top views depicted in FIGS. 1c and 1d . Externalwall 40 has a minor axis and a major axis. The minor axis extendsgenerally in the y-direction, and the major axis extends generally inthe x-direction. Furthermore, and as best shown in FIGS. 1c, 1f and 1h ,external wall 40 has a corresponding major dimension L₄₀, being itsoverall length in the x-direction, a minor dimension W₄₀, being itsoverall width in the y-direction, and a through-thickness dimension h₄₀in the axial direction. Inasmuch as body 22 is to fit in a person'smouth, the major dimension is larger than the minor dimension. In theparticular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a through 1h , the major dimensionis more than double the minor dimension. For the comfort of the user,the ratio of the length (i.e., major dimension) to width (i.e., minordimension) may be in the range of 2:1 to 8:1. More narrowly, it may bein the range of 2½:1 to 5:1. In the embodiment shown it is approximately4:1. In this arrangement the sides extending away from the central borecan be thought of as first and second or left and right hand wings,generally suited to the shape of a person's mouth. Although passage 24could be eccentric or asymmetric relative to body 22, it is convenientand it simplifies design and construction for passage 24 to be centeredin body 22 such that body 22 has first and second, or left-hand andright-hand wings 44, 46 (as best shown in FIG. 3a ) that extendsymmetrically to either side of passage 24.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2a-2h , there is a connector, orcoupling, or fitting, or interface, or an adapter 50. As before, it hasa body 52 having a bore defining a passageway 54. Passageway 54 iscomprised of first and second ends identified as an inlet 56 and anoutlet 58. As with adapter 20, the exterior of body 52 has a surface 60defining a land to be engaged by a person's mouth. As before, a socketis formed within passageway 54 in which to receive the end of a tube,straw, inhaler or the like. Also as before, passageway 54 may be, and asillustrated is, generally cylindrical with a circular in cross-section.

Nonetheless, adapter 50 differs from adapter 20 insofar as body 52 hasan internal surface of a bore 62 that defines passageway 54 and also hasan internal abutment, or stop, or dog, or shoulder 64 located axiallyinwardly of inlet 56. Shoulder 64 may be, and in the example illustratedis, located at or near the second end or outlet 58 of passageway 54, andmay then define the range-of-motion limiting element that establishesthe inner end of socket 68 into which the tube or straw locates. Theradially inward extent of shoulder 64 may be the same as, or roughly thesame as, the wall thickness of the tube, such that, when installed, theinside surface of the tube is generally flush with the circumferentiallyextending inside face of shoulder 64, though the same is not requiredfor adaptor 50 to function as intended. However, if shoulder 64 standsradially further inwardly, then the cross-section of the flow path isreduced, and shoulder 64 may then function as a vena contracta, or flowrestrictor, which may not necessarily be desirable. In any case, whethershoulder 64 extends about the full periphery of the circumference, orextends only partially thereabout, or is made of one or more partialsectors, or even nubs or other radially inward protrusions, it functionsas an abutment, or abutments, to limit the axial range of travel of theend of the tube inwardly (i.e., upwardly) along the socket definedwithin passageway 54. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, inlet 56 is chamfered, or radiused, as at 66, toprovide a lead-in to facilitate introduction of the tube or straw intothe socket 68.

As may be noted, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1a-1g and in the embodimentof FIGS. 2a-2g , adapters 20 and 50, as may be the case, havesubstantially solid bodies 22, 52, such as may be made as moldedplastic, food grade silicone, metal slugs, solid wooden pieces, or firedceramics. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIGS. 3a-3g , there is an apparatus that is a connector, interface,coupling, or fitting that is identified as adapter 70. It may be takenas being the same as adapter 20 or adapter 50, as may be the case, butrather than being a substantially solid body, adapter 70 has a body 72that is substantially hollow in its interior. That is, body 72 has acentral portion or region or structure 74 that may have the form of atube 76 forming the central flow passageway 96. Tube 76 also defines areceptacle or accommodation or socket 78 into which the end of a tube,straw, inhaler or the like is received, as before. Body 72 is furthercomprised of a shell 80 that is substantially hollow, and a peripheralwall 82 that extends in the axial direction and defines a land 84against which the lips of a person may form a seal. Shell 80 also has arearwardly facing member or plate 88 that closes off the radially andcircumferentially extending gap that would otherwise exist betweenoutlet 86 and the periphery of wall 82, thereby blocking the passage offluid through that gap. Shell 80 mates with central structure 74 suchthat outlet 58 and plate 88 are connected. In the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 3c and d , adapter 70 is a molded part in which centralstructure 74 and outer shell 80 are formed as a single monolithicmember.

In effect, each of adapters 20, 50 and 70 is a form of pipe couplinghaving a first connection or first interface in the form of a seat, orreceptacle or socket or accommodation for a tube end; and a secondconnection in the form of a seat or land, or socket, or accommodationfor a non-circular connection or seal formed by a person's lips. In thefirst instance, the first socket is a female socket that accepts a malefitting, namely the tube or straw end that seats inside the socket. Thisfitting could also be in the form of a male socket that fits inside theend of the tube or straw, but such an arrangement would have thepotential disadvantage of constricting the flow passageway by reducingits internal cross-sectional area. In the second instance, the secondconnection is effectively a second pipe fitting in the form of a malefitting that mates with an external female fitting. In each of theseexamples, the size and shape of the first connection is different fromthe size and shape of the second connection. That is, the firstconnection is generally cylindrical, and typically circular incross-section, to correspond with the size and shape of the associatedfitting of the end of the tube, straw, inhaler or the like. Bycomparison, the second connection or fitting is relatively larger, andcircumscribes the first fitting. The second connection is also comprisedof a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the major dimensionis larger than the minor dimension.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4c , there is a connector, orcoupling, or interface, or fitting or adapter 100. It may be taken asbeing the same as, or substantially the same as, any of adapters 20, 50or 70. It differs therefrom in having a body 102 having a passageway 104formed therethrough having an inlet 106 and an outlet 108. Morespecifically, passageway 104, while being cylindrical, or substantiallycylindrical subject, for example, to the formation of a draft angle ortaper, is of a non-circular cross-section. For example, thecross-section of passageway 104 may be oval or elliptical, as best shownin FIG. 4b . The arc length of the periphery of internal wall 108 mayremain the same as the circumference of the tube or straw that mateswith the socket, seat or accommodation formed within passageway 104,such that, again, a sealing interference fit is formed. A change in theshape of the section to an ellipse may tend to change, namely reduce,the cross-sectional flow passage area of the passageway, and may therebytend to define a restriction. It is understood that adapter 100 may havea stop or abutment, and an inlet radius or chamfer as previously shownin the context of adapters 50 and 70.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7a through 7d , there is amouthpiece, connector, coupling or adapter 120 that has the generalphysical appearance of a bow-tie. That is to say, adapter 120 has a body122 that has a bore 124 defining a passageway 126 therethrough. Thepassageway 126 is comprised of a first end defining an inlet 118, and asecond end defining an outlet 128. As before, the walls of the bore mayhave a slight draft angle or taper, as best illustrated in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a through 1h . Alternatively oradditionally, there may be an internal stop or shoulder 64 as inadapters 50 and 70, and the inlet may have a radius or chamfer as alead-in. Furthermore, adapter 120 may have the hollow shell form ofadapter 70.

Adapter 120 is further comprised of a central portion 130 having a firstside portion or wing 132, and a second side portion or wing 134. Centralportion 130 has a bore 124 formed therethrough, that is generally cubic.First and second wings 132, 134 are generally trapezoidal when viewed inplan view as in FIG. 7b , with the narrow end of the trapezoid adjoiningthe generally cubic body of central portion 130. That is, thetrapezoidal sides or surfaces 146, 148 combine with the flat sides ofcentral portion 130 to form a continuous land for engagement by aperson's mouth. The widening or diverging portion of the trapezoid maytend to present a shape that conforms to the shape of a person's mouth,wherein the jaws and teeth form a general U-shape when seen from above.When seen in the front or rear views of FIG. 7c , wings 132, 134 have anoutwardly tapering, diminishing profile such as may correspond to thegeneral shape of a person's mouth, and which may be triangular, orgenerally triangular as at 142, 144 respectively. The first and secondend faces 136, 138 of body 122, which include respective faces 142, 144and the forward and rearward faces of central portion 130 through whichbore 124 is formed, are closed, as before, and prevent fluid flow otherthan through passageway 126. Body 122 is axially cylindrical asillustrated, and the faces of the central and wing portions areindividually flat and planar, such that the body is a polygon. The body,or its various elements or portions 130, 132, 134 need not have flatplanar faces, and each of the portions could be axially tapering ornarrowing in the direction away from the tube or straw.

In FIG. 8a through 8d , the mouthpiece, coupling, connector or adapter150 has a body 152 that has a bore 154 defining a passageway 156, as inany of the embodiments discussed above. However, rather than having anaxially cylindrical external peripheral surface defining a land, and aradially-circumferentially extending portion of face defining a body orplate obstructing the difference in area between bore 154 and theexterior bore, these two elements or portions are combined in a singlesurface that extends generally radially, circumferentially and axiallyas a continuous curved surface 160. That is, the curved surface includesradial, circumferential and axial components in a single compoundcurvature. The profile of the curve or contour from side to side is seenin the view of FIG. 8c , and the profile of the rearwardly radiusedshape in the direction of the minor dimension is seen in the end or sideview of FIG. 8d . The person's lips may meet the shape of surface 160 onthe compound curvature, rather than on a purely axially extendingsurface. The leading portion of surface 160 may terminate in an axiallycylindrical portion or border, or skirt 162. As before, body 152 may besolid as in adapters 20, 50 and 70, or it may be a hollow shell, as inadapter 70, and it has first and second wings 164, 166 that extendlaterally away from a central core.

In FIGS. 5a through 5g , an apparatus 180 is illustrated in which theoutlet end adapter and the inlet tube have been provided in a singleunit. That is, apparatus 180 is comprised of a tube portion, region orcomponent 182, and an adapter portion, region or component 184 which mayhave the outlet connection interface shape and function of any ofadapters 20, 50, 70, 100, 120 or 150, respectively. Again, there is atransition from a cylindrical tubular input, which may be a tube orstraw of generally circular cross-section, to a larger, non-circularoutput interface in the form of a peripheral external surface 186defining a land 188 for engagement by a person's lips. In the alternateembodiment of FIG. 5a , adapter 170 has a stem or tube portion 172 and abody 174, which are substantially the same as tube portion 182 andadapter portion 184, except that the tube wall of tube portion 182 isrelatively thicker, and the distal end of tube portion 182 (i.e., theend furthest from adapter portion 174) has an internal shoulder 176 anda socket 178 into which to receive another tube or straw or likefitting. Tube portion 172 may be longer or shorter to suit the needs orpreferences of the user. In effect, adapter 170 is analogous to a shortpipe that extends between an inlet connector or coupling, namely socket178, and an outlet connector or coupling, namely body 174.

In FIGS. 6a through 6d , there is an apparatus 190 that has the form ofa combination of an adapter 192, having the shape and function of any ofadapters 20, 50, 70, 100, 120 or 150, that is mounted to a fluidreservoir 194, such as may be a drink box, bladder, or other similardevice. In the illustrations, it is shown as a drink box, but it couldbe a different type of container. Such containers may typically be madeof cardboard, and flex in size depending on the relative pressure insideand outside the container. In each case the outlet mouthpiece orconnector or coupling or adapter is formed to correspond more closelyand naturally to the shape of a person's mouth, rather than presentingmerely a circular cylindrical tube end. The apparatus may, optionally,include an internal riser, or foot, in the form of a tube 196 thatreaches down from adapter fitting 192 at the top to the bottom of thechamber, and is open at the bottom end to permit the user to draw fluidfrom the bottom region of the chamber reservoir without inverting theapparatus.

As may be appreciated, and particularly in respect of adapters 20, 50,70, 100, 120, 150 and 192, the adapters may be provided in a range ofdistinctive colors or patterns, so that a person may recognize their ownmouthpiece or adapter, as distinct from one being used by anotherperson. Furthermore, where the adapter is removable, as are adapters 20,50, 70, 100, 120 and 150, they may themselves be re-washable andre-usable. Furthermore, the ability to remove the mouthpiece adapterfrom the tube may allow the tube to be removed and washed andsterilized. That is, the tube member may be made of stainless steel, orof a food-grade washable plastic, either of which may be either reusableor recyclable.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the various adaptors of the presentinvention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known inthe art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, providedthat it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material ofthe various adaptors shown in the Figs. are for illustrative purposesonly, and that many other sizes and configurations of the adaptor arewell within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensionsof the various adaptors and their respective components are importantdesign parameters for user convenience, the adaptors may be of any sizethat ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits theowners' needs and/or preferences.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimedsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mouthpiece adapter that engages a tube, themouthpiece adapter comprising: a body having a continuous passagewaytherethrough, said continuous passageway having an inlet and an outlet;the inlet defining a socket for receiving an end of the tube in aninterference fit; the continuous passageway having an axial direction;the body having an exterior wall extending peripherally about thecontinuous passageway, wherein the exterior wall is comprised of a lipengagement surface; the body having a major dimension and a minordimension, wherein each of the major dimension and the minor dimensionextend cross-wise to the axial direction; the minor dimension defining amouthpiece height; and the major dimension defining a mouthpiece widthand being larger than the minor dimension.
 2. The mouthpiece adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the body is symmetrical relative to the continuouspassageway.
 3. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1, wherein the socketcomprises an internal axial stop.
 4. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1,wherein the socket is inwardly tapered.
 5. The mouthpiece adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the body is further comprised of a hollow portion. 6.The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1, wherein, when viewed axially, themouthpiece adapter is one of: (a) a predominantly polygonal shape; (b) apredominantly elliptical shape; and (c) a predominantly oval shape. 7.The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1, wherein, when viewed sideways alongthe major dimension, the body is radiused to present a smooth surfacefacing away from the socket.
 8. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1,wherein the major dimension is at least double the minor dimension, andfurther wherein the body tapers to a point at either end of said majordimension.
 9. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1, wherein the socket hasa non-circular cross-section.
 10. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 1,wherein the inlet of the continuous passageway has a chamfered lead-in.11. A mouthpiece adapter comprising: a body having an inlet, an outlet,and an exterior wall; and a passageway positioned between, and in fluidcommunication with, the inlet and the outlet, wherein the inlet furthercomprises a socket having an internal axial stop.
 12. The mouthpieceadapter of claim 11, wherein the exterior wall extends peripherallyabout the passageway.
 13. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 11, whereinthe exterior wall further comprises a lip engagement surface.
 14. Themouthpiece adapter of claim 11, wherein the body further comprises amajor dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the major dimension islarger than the minor dimension.
 15. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 11,wherein the body is symmetrical relative to the passageway.
 16. Themouthpiece adapter of claim 11, wherein the socket is inwardly tapered.17. The mouthpiece adapter of claim 11, wherein the body is furthercomprised of a hollow portion.
 18. A mouthpiece adapter and tubecombination comprising: a body having an inlet, an outlet, and anexterior wall; a length of tube extending outwardly from said inlet; anda passageway positioned between, and in fluid communication with, theoutlet and the length of tube.
 19. The mouthpiece adapter and tubecombination of claim 18, wherein the exterior wall extends peripherallyabout the passageway and comprises a lip engagement surface.
 20. Themouthpiece adapter and tube combination of claim 18, wherein the bodyfurther comprises a major dimension and a minor dimension, the majordimension being larger than the minor dimension, and further wherein thebody is symmetrical relative to the passageway.